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Nick Jordan following rugby sevens in association with Britz

Rugby sevens reaches into the heart of provincial New Zealand with tournaments in Waipukurau and Rahotu this weekend.

The one-day tournaments, to find the champion clubs in Hawke's Bay and Taranaki respectively, bring to a close the New Zealand sevens season, whilst also act as a useful pre-season run for many players preparing for fifteen-a-side.

The Hawke's Bay Sevens at Central Park Waipukurau, 80 km from Napier, caters for forty teams in three separate competitions - men's, colts and women's. The major Hawke’s Bay clubs are regular visitors and Havelock North will look to retain the Baker Cup which is presented for the 29th time on Saturday.

Ian "Cheesie" Baker was a very accomplished player in the 50’s in Central Hawke’s Bay and his wife, Joyce, still resides in Waipawa. Their son Robin is the current President of Kia Toa RFC in neighbouring Manawatu.

Havelock North, with Ihaia West, Shannan Chase and Gillies Kaka featuring prominently , finished third at the recent Mt Maunganui club sevens and are hungry to add to their 11 previous titles.

Kia Toa, the home of Christian Cullen when he first made the All Blacks, has entered two men’s teams (plus a women’s) whilst Linton (last year’s beaten finalists), Freyberg Old Boys, Feilding Old Boys and Oroua also pay a neighbourly visit to Central Park.

Pacific Warriors, based in Wellington, send two teams and Tawa, Upper Hutt and Lomaiviti also feature from the capital city. Play starts at 10am.

Meanwhile, eight teams from seven Taranaki clubs will play for the Dewar Shield at the Coastal RFC in Rahotu, approximately 45 minutes from New Plymouth on the famous Surf Highway 45.

Henry Dewar, an All Black who played 16 matches including two tests in 1913, was killed in the Gallipoli campaign in 1915 aged 31. He played for the now defunct Melrose club in Wellington but made the All Blacks whilst part of Taranaki's successful Ranfurly Shield era of 1913-14.

Spotswood is the top seed for the tournament in the absence of reigning champions Tukapa and fields two teams in the event which kicks off at 10am with the finals at 4:40pm. A six-team Colts competition is also part of the day.

This Saturday offers supporters in heartland New Zealand the opportunity to experience the world's newest Olympic sport in the iconic Kiwi countryside. However, with many provinces now wisely choosing to run club sevens tournaments between September and November to prepare for provincial and regional tournaments, and with clubs commencing their XVs pre-season programmes earlier and earlier, the days of club sevens in February may be limited.

It is hoped that a 'Summer of Sevens' culminating in a true national club championship may be in place before too long.

Pic: Shannan Chase (Havelock North) evades All Black Hosea Gear at Mt Maunganui (Courtesy Havelock North RFC)

Hawke's Bay Baker Cup (men's)
Pool A: Havelock North, Upper Hutt, Freyberg OB
Pool B: Clive, Pacific Warriors A, Hastings B
Pool C: Kaierau, Napier Technical OB, Central Hawke's Bay
Pool D: Kia Toa A, Napier OB Marist, Pacific Warriors A
Pool E: Lomaiviti Auckland, Taradale, Central Barbarians
Pool F: Tawa, Tamatea, Kia Toa B
Pool G: Hastings A, Linton, Lomaiviti Wellington

Women's teams:
Napier Pirates, Eketahuna, Havelock North, Hastings R&S, Kia Toa, Napier Technical OB, Clive

Taranaki Dewar Shield
Pool A: Spotswood Yellow, New Plymouth OB, Coastal, Southern
Pool B: Spotswood Red, Inglewood, Tukapa, Clifton